Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful way to celebrate Independence Day any day!, July 7, 2002
In the city of Boston in the 1770's, Johnny Tremain is an apprentice silversmith who is a bit too confident for his own good. When his master is offered a job that is too difficult for his aged skills, Johnny jumps at the opportunity to prove himself to the important customer, Mr. Lyte. But with the job, a deadline is also given, and to do the work in time, Johnny finds himself, along with his master's wife and daughter, breaking the law by working on a Sunday. While pouring molten silver under panicked conditions, Johnny is pushed into it and his right hand is badly burned.
Time passes, and Johnny must unwrap his burned fingers and get back to the work he is bound to do, but upon discovering that his fingers have healed and grown together, making his hand somewhat useless, he is cast out into the street to find a new home. But no one will hire a boy with one good hand, when there are plenty to be had with two. Johnny soon finds himself desperate, and goes to the home of rich Mr. Lyte, to share his long kept secret, that he is actually named Jonathan Lyte Tremain. Johnny has never told anyone other than the silversmith's beautiful daughter, Cilla, that he was the unknown nephew of Mr. Lyte, but now he has no choice. But when he speaks to the man, he is accused of trying to con him, and Johnny soon finds himself the defendant in a trial that could send him to the gallows. Luckily, Johnny has befriended some important people in his search for work, such as the Patriots Josiah Quincy and Paul Revere, among others. They work to free Johnny, and with the help of Cilla's testimony, the boy soon finds himself cleared and working as a horse messenger boy for the local band of Patriots. A cause that Johnny once found rather trivial, becomes his new passion, and Johnny soon finds himself taking part in secret meetings, the Boston Tea Party, and some famous battles that kicked off the War for Independence.
Johnny Tremain is a Disney classic from that very special time period at the studios. The film is inspirational, fun, and fit for all ages. True, it's waaaaay more family friendly than the novel, but to me that's just fine. Think of this as the "Disney version" you can watch with the whole family. The casting is wonderful by the way. I always had a thing for Luana Patten as a kid. Great music too, and that beautiful 50's Disney look. Perfect for 4th of July viewing, or for anytime viewing! Add this film to your list of Independence Day classics like 1776, The Patriot, Ben and Me, and the Swamp Fox!
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37 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
What happened to Forbes' story?, April 10, 2000
By A Customer
Esther Forbes' "Johnny Tremain" is one of the greatest books ever written for young readers. The story is about a young silversmith apprentice who is finds himself swept up in the events of the American Revolution. Johnny participates in the Boston Tea Party, spies on the British, and mingles with such patriots as Sam Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere.Like most movie versions of famous books, Walt Disney's "Johnny Tremain" takes many liberties with the story. In the book Johnny takes no part in the fighting at Lexington or Concord; in the movie Johnny is in the thick of the action. This would be forgivable had the film version been faithful to the message of Forbes' book which is the ideal of the American Revolution- "that a man can stand up"- came with the sacrifice of blood and young lives. It is here that the movie completly misses the mark. The book shows that war could extinguish the young lives of the best and brightest; the movie, on the other hand, shows war as a boy's adventure- clever boys hide behind trees, shoot at redcoats, and have a great time at it. No major character is harmed, and everyone goes around singing! In order to have the Disney signature of a happy ending, the film lost the message of the book and thus failed to capture the essence of one of the great children's books. A real shame!
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32 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Give young viewers a glimpse of the original ideals, July 9, 2000
I remembered this movie from my childhood, and the desire to see it again was stirred from the current patriotic fever generated by Mel Gibson's latest showing. I have not yet read the book, although I added it to my shopping cart this evening, so I cannot comment on its accuracy in that regard. However, it had a message that my 10-year-old daughter could understand. The Revolutionary War was not about tea or soldiers or guns, but about the principle that a small body of men completely absent from the people they govern should have such absolute control over the lives of large numbers of people. Early in the movie Tremain feels the resistance to the tea tax is much ado about nothing, then later realizes the larger picture. I get much the same reaction today from people as I point out the unconstitutional laws being passed by our own lawmakers. As long as people in general have their microwave ovens and DVD players, they care not how much the law of the land is mangled by the very people who swore to uphold and protect it. With kids' short attention spans these days, this movie is an excellent vehicle for exposing them to the concept of fighting for principle over profit - a value the upcoming generation needs to learn.
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